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Buying a new phone in 2016 means choosing between Android and iOS – but which tech company makes the better phone?
Investing in a new phone means choosing, inevitably, between one of Apple’s iOS-toting iPhones and a range of different Android phones.
Both operating systems offer advantages and disadvantages. While the recently-released iPhone 7 Plus is pick of the bunch for iOS, Google’s Android has a few more options to choose fromThat being said, the Pixel XL comes straight from the Google stable and is the only phone to arrive with the very latest version of Android – nicknamed ‘Nougat’ – preinstalled.
The Pixel XL will be available on October 20th – meaning you’ll be able to get hold of one before the end of the month.
Hardware and specs
When it comes to brute power, then the momentum is clearly with Google for its 2016 flagship smartphone.
Both the iPhone 7 Plus and Google Pixel XL have 5.5-inch screens, but the resolution on the latter is 1440p whilst the former only manages 1080p. The same is true of random access memory – useful for multitasking – as the iPhone boasts 3GB whilst Pixel offers 4GB.
Both phones have fingerprint scanners – although while the iPhone puts it on the front, Google’s Pixel has it round the back.
Google doesn’t pull ahead in every aspect though – as the iPhone 7 Plus boasts Apple’s first ever dual-lens camera. The company made a big deal about its optical zoom and high dynamic range at the iPhone launch event.
We’ve yet to see Google’s Pixel camera in action but if you use your phone to take a lot of pictures, Apple could be the way to go.
Usability and features
Thanks to the speed of software development, many aspects of actually using the phones are very similar.
For example, you can swipe up or down from the home screen to quickly access shortcuts. Both have voice-enabled assistants – Google Now and Siri. And both let you use fingerprint scanners to pay for items like coffee or groceries.
Even the apps are similar – Google Duo is very similar to FaceTime whilst big hitters like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Snapchat are available on both platforms.
The iPhone 7 Plus’ big feature is the aforementioned dual lens camera while the Pixel XL trumpets Google’s advancements in artificial intelligence with the Google Allo messaging app.
Oh, and the Pixel XL has a 3.5mm headphone jack – unlike the iPhone 7 Plus.
Price
Google’s Pixel XL surprised a few people with its high price.
It costs £719 for the 32GB model and £819 for the 128GB version.
Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus also starts at £719 for the 32GB model.
Battery
What’s more, we can’t know for sure how long the 3,450mAh battery on the Pixel XL lasts compared to the iPhone 7 Plus’ 2,900mAh.
Apple has made it clear that iOS 10 is more efficient and that its phones now last longer. But critics have still complained about both the battery life and the slow charging time of the iPhones.
Who wins?
If you’re looking for a simple-to-use phone that takes good pictures, then Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus is certainly the one to go for. You’ll be paying more for the privilege – but it will update faster and, generally, hold on to its value if you want to upgrade again in a year’s time.
However, if you need more power and want to tinker with settings and appearances, Google’s Pixel XL is probably more your cup of tea. It’ll be cheaper too, and the battery will probably last longer.
[Source:-Miroor]
